The Paul era in New Orleans ended Wednesday evening when the Hornets and Los Angeles Clippers agreed to terms on a blockbuster trade for the four-time All-Star.

The Hornets acquired shooting guard Eric Gordon, center Chris Kaman, forward Al-Farouq Aminu and a 2012 first-round pick for Paul. In addition, the Clippers will receive two 2015 second-round picks from the Hornets.

NBA Commissioner David Stern, who nixed two earlier trades with the Lakers and Clippers involving Paul, signed off on the deal. Stern reportedly wanted a deal that provided young players for the NBA-owned franchise to build around.

Paul was the Hornets’ franchise player for six seasons, winning the Rookie of the Year in 2006 and appearing in four All-Star Games. He helped the Hornets win a franchise-record 56 games during the 2007-08 season that ended with a Game 7 loss at home to the San Antonio Spurs in the Western Conference semifinals. In the two rounds against the Mavericks and Spurs that season, he averaged 24.1 points, 11.3 assists, 4.9 rebounds and 2.3 steals. He also became the first player in NBA history to record 30-point, 10-assist games in his first two playoff contests.

Paul, who was the Hornets’ first-round pick in the 2005 NBA draft, is the second All-Star the Hornets have lost in the past week. Forward David West, who made the All-Star Game in 2008 and 2009, agreed to a two-year, $20 million contract to join the Indiana Pacers. West, who averaged 16.4 points a game in his eight-year career with the Hornets, opted out of his contract after last season to become a free agent despite having to undergo reconstructive knee surgery.

Paul’s relationship with the Hornets began to decline just after the 2009-10 season started when Coach Byron Scott was fired. Paul felt he should have been notified more in advance by former general manager Jeff Bower. In the summer of 2010, Paul said he wouldn’t mind being traded if the Hornets weren’t serious about winning. Bower was fired and replaced by Dell Demps, who met with Paul to address his concerns and ensure him the Hornets were serious about winning. Paul also got attention when he made a toast at Carmelo Anthony’s wedding that summer about forming a Big Three in New York by teaming up with Anthony and Amare Stoudemire with the Knicks.

Once the lockout ended last month and teams were able to meet with their players Paul informed Demps that he wasn’t interested in signing an extension with the Hornets. Demps began shopping him immediately.

A cloud of uncertainty hovered over the Hornets’ franchise after three deals involving Paul collapsed in five days, including two that would’ve sent him to the Lakers.

But the deal that was finally agreed upon Wednesday features Gordon, a 22-year-old shooting guard from Indiana who is entering his fourth season. He averaged 14.9 points last season.

Aminu, 21, a second-year forward from Wake Forest, started 14 games last season, averaging 7.9 points.

Kaman, 29, an eight-year veteran, played in only 32 games last season after suffering a left ankle injury. The 7-footer is in the final year of his contract and can be an unrestricted free agent after this season.

Paul will be teaming up with Clippers forward Blake Griffin, last season’s Rookie of the Year. Paul is expected to exercise the option year on his current deal, which would give him potentially two seasons with the Clippers before he would have to sign an extension or choose to explore free agency.

The delay in trading Paul has held up Demps’ push to sign free agents. The Hornets’ lone free agent signing was guard Marco Belinelli, who agreed to exercise his option to return to the Hornets.

Hornets Coach Monty Williams complained last week that Paul’s trade uncertainty was causing a distraction during his team’s training camp. Most of the media attention centered on Paul and where he would play this season. In all of the commotion, Paul stayed silent.

He could not be reached for comment Wednesday evening.

“I just hope he gets what he wants and we get what can be perceived as equal in return,” Hornets guard Jarrett Jack said Wednesday before the tentative agreement was reached with the Clippers. “Hopefully both sides can be happy as soon as possible and move on.”

After news broke of Wednesday’s trade, Gordon tweeted “wow.” It was the same word Paul tweeted last Thursday after Stern nixed a three-team deal that had Paul going to the Lakers.